If this were a ’95 Corolla wagon, I wouldn’t have stopped. And I would know with a great degree of likelihood that it would still be around in a few years, or more. But not so with this Passat wagon; not only is it the last of its generation I’ve seen in some time, it looks like it might be on its last legs. Get it while you can…
I’m a bit of a fan of these, as they were exceptionally roomy inside and just sort of oozed Volkswagen-German practicality. Unlike its predecessors (and successor B6), the B3/B4 generation was not based on the Audi 80, but had a transverse engine was essentially a Golf stretched in all directions. That was a key aspect to its exceptional interior room, especially rear leg room.
These were sold here in three versions: the TDI with the 1.9 L turbo-diesel four, which is what I would have gone for at the time. The GLS had the 2.0 gas four, and the GLX came with the VW VR6. I know an AWD Syncro version was available in Europe, but I’m not finding any references to it being offered in the US. Hmm…
My father in law came to visit us in Los Gatos in about 1990 or 1991, and he was driving a B3 version Passat wagon (the B3 was basically the same car, but without a front grille and some other changes). He let me take it for a spin and I did like it quite a lot. New VWs tend to be very likable. Thirty year old ones? Not so much so.
This one is looking a bit worse for wear, especially on the inside. But there’s every indication that it’s still moving under its own power, and there’s a fair bit of that on tap with the 2.8 L VR6, a very narrow angle (15 degrees) V6 that allowed it to share a single cylinder head for both banks. The reason for its existence was to create a V6 that could readily fit in transverse FWD applications without being significantly longer than a four. There was also a VR5 variant.
The ratio of hood length to the rest of the body is exceptionally low for a conventional body style, and those long rear doors hint at the room in the rear seat.
This shot is from a B3 wagon I wrote up back in 2014 (link below), and shows what I’m referring to. The Germans called the B3 “Raumwunder” (Space Miracle). Yes, I have a thing for wagons with lots of rear leg room; in fact I drive one. It must that German thing, Lebensraum, the automotive version.
Related CC reading:
Curbside Classic: 1992 VW Passat Wagon (B3) – Practicality Über Alles
I still notice these too (though I have not seen one in ages) because my sister had the sedan version. Hers was a diesel with a manual transmission. They wanted a Jetta diesel but apparently this Passat had been clogging up the dealer’s lot for a long time and they wanted it gone, so she got a screaming deal on it. I drove it a few times, and it was a very nice driver – as VWs tend to be.
My grandfather had a B3 wagon for years, I never really realized how roomy is was in the back, but I was a kid. That car was eventually supplanted then replaced by a new B5.5 wagon, which was pretty swanky. I remember being very impressed with its chrome accents in the interior, and the slow open ash trays and cigarette lighters. The B5.5 may have had slightly less rear seat room, but was still pretty roomy. My brother got the B3 as his first real car, and ended up wrecking it. I got the B5.5 and had it for about 5 years before selling it, still miss that car in some ways. Now I have an 07 A4 wagon (with rear car seat installed), and I really do miss the extra space in the back of those Passats.
As to the B4, a buddy of mine bought a $700 VR6 sedan, and while it was fun, the early VR has a lot of weak points. Timing chain tensioners on the back of the engine fall apart with miles/age. The lower one you can only replace by removing the transmission or engine. There is a plastic coolant pipe (called crack pipe) that goes from the water pump on the front to the coolant flange on the rear of the engine, the pipe and the flange crack and break, and are a huge pain to service in car without removing the entire front end. The coil packs fry, and new Bosch units are obscenely expensive, though you can retrofit a part from V6 Mustangs/Fords from the late 90s that is cheaper new, widely available in junkyards as well, and performs better. I could go on, but the VR was really kind of half baked at launch, with all these little issues that can leave you stranded
I was really interested in these when I saw one at the Detroit Auto Show, especially the TDI version. I drove a lot for work and needed cargo space for car parts and hockey equipment.
A friend is a big VW guy, he always had at least two Golfs or Jettas, or Passats. He also had quite a bit of parts too. He seemed proud that he could swap out an engine or transmission so easily (because of experience). I didn’t jump to that conclusion…
It was very tempting but I bought a 850 wagon (which I still have, but not as a DD) and didn’t regret it. I know people’s experiences with 850s varied, but my car was an off-lease model with about 52K miles. I have put another 200K on it since.
This was my roommate’s car, in the same color, when I was a student in Germany. It was new and his parent’s bought it for him. A very nice ride. I think it was diesel. I hadn’t seen any around Chicago when I returned.
The Passat, wasn’t exactly known here in the States, as a ride in the same class as the Accord, Camry or Taurus/Sable wagons. Also, this was during the big boom in minivans, so sales of Passat wagons here in the US were negligible.
But, Germany. When it comes to vehicles there, it’s quite different. Like every country, except the US, Germans buy their own country’s brands. These cars FIT life there. There is so much German that I see in this Passat. It is not a surprise to see Torsten with one in Oldenburg, but it is a surprise to see one here in the US.
Finally, the price. Too high. Why would you buy this when you can pay less for a better set of wheels?
I feel like this wasn’t even our radar when we bought our new Corolla wagon in 1993. Maybe not available as a wagon in California with manual transmission? That was the reason neither the Accord or Camry made our list. In fact, I do think the California Passat wagons were VR6 auto only. But I think that after tow truck rides with both our Vanagon and BMW, plus small children, my wife’s #1 requirement was that our car be a) new and b) Japanese. Within a few years of course, she went back VW and “her cars” have been VW for almost 25 years now. And not a station wagon 😀.
I have recently visited the approximate region of our esteemed Editor In Chief, and I saw quite a few vehicles of this nature. Seems like the residents of this area tend to be practical and pragmatic. I appreciated seeing vehicles like this.
Canadians didn’t suffer the motorized belts, nor airbags. 5 years ago, Picked up a 5 spd ’91 wagon with the 16V engine, cheap. Had over 300 k kms, but engine ran like a charm, used little oil, and less fuel than my ’91 BMW 318iS. Instrument cluster failed due to spiking alternator, fuel distributor had to be replaced, so I eventually sold it to mechanic. Unmatched practicality: seats fold completely flat for camping, etc. Wish I could find a better one. Couple years later, found a ’93 Passat Diesel CL sedan (manual windows, seats, no sunroof, no airbag). 1.9 litre turbo diesel (not TDI) AAZ code engine, apparently Canada only. Was supposed to be winter beater car, but it’s become a full restoration. Great highway cruiser: 5.2 l/100 km ~ 54 MPG (Imperial) With only 75 HP/ 100 ft./lbs, slow off the line, but pulls long grades in the mountains surprisingly well. Think they understated the torque, or the turbo is really working at 3000 RPM.
Comment above to Paul’s post of 2013. Sold the diesel, still running great, about 5 years ago. Driving a Golf Sportwagon now, wish it was bit longer like the Passat wagon !
That doesnt sound right my turbo diesel 1905 cc Citroen was 90 hp but 180ft ilbs of twist but at 3000rpm you were in the hp section of the engine max torque at 2400rpm
My nephew had a G60 Syncho wagon. He was living in Montreal at the time, but even there they were rare. I only saw it once when we were visiting in-laws for Christmas. We had decided to take the train to Montreal, to avoid the long drive in winter from Toronto. It was extremely cold, even for Montreal, so I wore my warmest boots, a pair of Sorels. I did get a couple of rides in it, but when I tried to drive it I found my very warm but very large winter boots were too wide for the pedals. My regular shoes would have been fine, but I had not brought them with me. A couple of years later my nephew moved to the US, and somehow he managed to take the VW with him and get it registered, even though I don’t think it was approved for sale in US.
Looking at that blackish grey interior (or is it greyish black ?), I feel a fear of suffocation.
Never cared much for the B3/B4 series Passats (as I don’t do for Volkswagens in general). But they seem to hold out quite good. In rural parts of my country, you can see them soldering on relatively often even today. Relatively, if you consider their age. Mostly (ab-) used as workhorses and equipped with narrow-chested diesel or 1.8 l petrol mills. Whereas the successor B5 almost died out.